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Conference of Commissioners of Police. —The annual conference of Commissioners of Police of Australia and New Zealand was held in Melbourne in November, 1949. The New Zealand Police Force was represented by Superintendent H. Scott of Police Headquarters. He attended the conference on behalf of the Commissioner of Police who, on account of pressure of other duties, was not able to journey to Australia. This annual interchange of views on police methods and procedure, legislative provisions, equipment, radio communication, transport, and the multitudinous matters which affect police administration is of the utmost value to the police of the Commonwealth and of the Dominion. The constantly increasing ease of communication and of air transportation has brought its new problems and calls for the closest co-operation between New Zealand and other countries, especially Australia. A very close liaison exists between the various States of the Commonwealth and the New Zealand Police Force with the result that all are promptly apprised of movements of criminals and of other matters of vital importance to these Forces. Conference of Commissioned Officers. —This was again held at Police Headquarters in May, 1949. The conference is a most valuable channel for the discussion of common problems and is of the utmost benefit to the individual officers and to the administration. Empire Games.—An outstanding event during the year was the holding of the Empire Games at Auckland, which called for additional police protection to deal with the many problems which arose with the assembly of large crowds. Arrangements were therefore made for the services of a large number of additional members of the Force, drawn from the various police districts, to be made available at Auckland during the period. Their work was made lighter by the splendid conduct of the crowds at the various functions and it is pleasing to report that over the period no untoward incidents arose. The New Zealand Police were assisted by members of the Australian Detective ■ Force —one from Brisbane, two from Sydney, and one from Melbourne. These detectives were of substantial assistance in locating or identifying Australian criminals who were in New Zealand about the time of the Empire Games, and I place on record appreciation of the good services rendered by the visiting detectives and the able manner in which they carried out their duties. It is interesting to note that the Police Forces of other countries were represented at the Empire Games and members of the Forces of England, Scotland, Canada, Rhodesia, Nigeria, Ceylon, and Australia took part in the games, while the New Zealand Police were proud to number among the distinguished competitors two members of the Force. Coaching Scheme. —With the object of assisting members of the Force, and particularly those in outlying districts with limited facilities for study, to qualify by examination for higher rank, the scheme of coaching members in law subjects by correspondence has been continued. It is clear that apart from the assistance given to the members in their endeavours to qualify for non-commissioned and commissioned rank, the coaching results in increased efficiency in the performance of police duties. Transport. —The fleet of motor-vehicles of the Department was augmented by the provision of twenty-one new motor-cars, which, however, have been utilized mainly as replacements for vehicles that had become outmoded and worn out through the heavy and constant strain of police duties. It is clearly demonstrated from events reported daily that the equipment of the Police Force with speedy, reliable, and modern motorvehicles is of prime importance in order to keep pace with the high-powered cars and speedy transportation at the disposal of law-breakers. A review of the allowances paid to members providing motor-cars and using them on police duty was made during the year and, where warranted, increases have been approved in keeping with the services rendered. It is apparent that great difficulty is being experienced by members in keeping their older vehicles in a reasonable state of repair, but because of their inability to replace the cars they have necessarily been

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